News and Notes on the Nationals Minors from the perspective of the fan, sportswriter, and amateur scout

Last Night In Woodbridge

“This one was over early.”

That’s what the brain said, after giving up six runs to the first eight batters Adam Olbrychowski faced, punctuated by a two-run HR by Salem’s Drew Hedman.

But then Oblrychowski settled down, retiring eight straight batters while the offense chipped away at the 6-0 deficit with a solo HR by Justin Bloxom in the 2nd and an RBI groundout by Michael Taylor in the 3rd.

So the heart said, “Well, maybe if Olby can give us five innings, we can make this a ballgame.”

After back-to-back walks in the 4th, then a nifty 8-6-4 double play when Salem tried to hit-and-run with leadoff hitter Jackie Bradley Jr., the heart started to flutter. Then a two-run shot deep to left field reminded us that the brain was right all along, putting the Red Sox up 8-2 after three and a 1/2 innings.

A five-run 5th put the game away for Salem, as the Red Sox prospects battered Trevor Holder for a triple, two doubles and a single to take a commanding 13-2 lead.

Randolph Oduber struck back with a two-run shot in the bottom of the 5th, but it was too little, too late.

Wilson Eusebio, Neil Holland and Cameron Selik combined for four and 1/3rd scoreless innings of relief, but their Salem counterparts matched them zero for zero, with Blake Kelso’s two-out single to left in the 7th the last gasp over the final four innings.

With the loss, Potomac falls to 6-7 on the season, tied for second place with the Frederick Keys in the Carolina League’s Northern Division, two and a 1/2 games behind the Lynchburg Hillcats. Matt Grace (1-1, 7.00) is slated to take the hill tonight against Salem’s Keith Couch (2-1, 3.38) in Game Three of the four-game series.

Author: Luke Erickson

Since 2009, Luke Erickson has been chief writer, editor, and bottle-washer of NationalsProspects.com. Potomac is his home base as a season-ticket holder, but he has visited every affiliate north of Florida at least once, with multiple trips to Hagerstown and Harrisburg.
View all posts by Luke Erickson

Boy, the Nat’s minor league pitching is poor. Only Hagerstown, on paper, seems to have promise, although they sure as heck are not fulfilling it. Potomac has no one of note, ditto Syracuse. And Harrisburg has only Rosenbaum who does not fit the profile of a Rizzo pitcher.
Of course there are Solis, Purke, Jordan, and Ray but, under the circumstances, they don’t inspire much hope.
Two players who went high in the draft and have essentially done nothing over the years are Holder, and Stephen King. How they hang on is a mystery to me.
Okay, that’s enough negativity for one day.

Give the pitching time. ALL stats are suspect this early. Rizzo traded 3 good ones for Gio and Solis had Tommy John – Meyers will be dominant – either as a starter or set-up man. Purke is going to be real good. Other may surprise. I expect Rizzo and the brain trust to try to bolster the farm pitching in this year’s draft. It’s early. Patience on all evaluations is required.

Lehman throws in the 89-91 range but throws an above-average slider that he’s trying to master. If he does, there’s probably a place for him somewhere in the bigs, but as many have remarked, Rizzo seems to favor the fireballers so it might not be with the Nats.